Method of printing multi-layered media

ABSTRACT

A multi-layered seriograph includes a first layer applied to a backing material as a viscous liquid. The first layer is either an ink, an oil-based, non-latex paint or a latex, non-oil-based paint. A sealing medium is applied over the first layer to form a barrier to bleed through from and to subsequent layers. An outer layer is applied over the sealing medium by seriograph methods. The outer layer includes a transparent luminescent pigment that is not luminescent under only ambient and incandescent light. The layer having a pigment produces a luminescent effect when subject to ultraviolet light, wherein the seriograph exhibits one visible object when subjected to ambient, incandescent and fluorescent light and at least one different visible object when subjected to ultraviolet light. A method for creating the seriograph is also disclosed.

[0001] This application is a continuation in part of Ser. No. 08/868,821filed Jun. 4, 1997.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to a Multi-Layered Oil and LatexSeriograph. More particularly, the invention relates to a seriographcreated in multiple layers, having at least two print layers with asealing medium disposed between the print layers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Paintings have evolved from the early cave man paintings found invarious parts of the world to become some of the most revered anddefined works of art today. Paintings are far and away the most widelyexhibited form of art work in museums and galleries throughout theworld.

[0004] Paint is essentially a viscous fluid that consists of a vehicleor binder and a pigment. Optionally, the paint can include a solvent orthinner, a dryer, a boistat or biocide and an ultraviolet blocker orstabilizer. Paint can be applied as a fluid in thin cultural layers anddries to a solid. The drying phenomena is generally not reversible. Thatis, the dried paint cannot transformed back into the viscous fluidstate. The change to a solid, i.e., the drying phenomena, may occur byevaporation of the solvent, by chemical reaction or by a combination ofboth evaporation and chemical reaction.

[0005] There exists two principal types of paint. One type of paint,commonly known as oil-based paint, uses an oil or oil-based vehicle tocarry the pigment or coloring agent. Oil-based paints typically containa dryer to accelerate the drying process. Such paints typically dry byoxidation and solidify by cross linking, which is a chemical reaction.

[0006] Another basic type of paint is a water-based paint. Such paintsuse water or a water soluble fluid as a vehicle. Early water-basedpaints were water sensitive and thus had limited uses. Recentdevelopments in water-based paints have resulted in paints havinggreater water resistance. The paint is applied as a fluid and the waterevaporates (with possible further chemical change, i.e., oxidation orpolymerization), leaving a film coating.

[0007] One modern form of painting uses the simulated movement ofcharacters, environment, background and the like to produce visuallypleasing effects. Such effects attempt to create the impression orappearance that objects within the painting appear suddenly before aviewer's eyes or move as the viewer§s perception or lighting conditionschange. A method of achieving the desired simulated motion is by usingdifferent types of media such as different types of paint. Mixing suchmedia can be done with the use of ordinary paint in combination withlight emitting luminescent or phosphorescent paint, in, for example, alayered application.

[0008] Those skilled in the art will recognize that oil-based andwater-based acrylic paints have outstanding characteristics in that theyprovide a durable media, and offer a wide variety of colors, tones andtextures. It has, however, been observed that layering water-basedacrylic paint with oil-based paint either of which have ultravioletactivated pigments, can result in cracking of the overcoat.

[0009] Further, when layering an ink or paint in a seriograph orsilk-screen print, it has been observed that the layers can bleed intoeach other or the visual images can blur. The consequences of suchbleeding are that the sharpness of the image may be lost and thus theaesthetic value of the painting diminished. This is particularly truefor paintings which include such luminescent pigments.

[0010] Accordingly, there continues to be a need for a seriograph and amethod therefor which permits the use of layers of paints and inks oneon the top of the other, which inks and paints may include atransparent, ultra-violet enhanced luminescent paint pigment. Such aseriograph will resist cracking and will provide sharp, visually andaesthetically pleasing images without blurring, fading or bleeding ofthe images.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] A multi-layered seriograph created on a backing such as canvas orpaper generally includes a first ink layer applied to the backingmaterial as a viscous liquid. The first ink layer is either anoil-based, non-latex ink or a latex, non-oil-based ink. A sealing mediumis disposed on the first paint layer to form a barrier to bleed-throughfrom and to subsequent paint layers. A second seriograph layer isdisposed on the dealing medium as a viscous liquid, the second layerbeing an ink layer having a fluorescent pigment therein.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the sealing medium is varnish.

[0013] Second ink layers includes a transparent pigment that produces aluminescent effect when subject to ultraviolet light, and does notinclude a pigment that is luminescent under only ambient andincandescent light. The luminescent pigment produces an effect whereinthe seriograph exhibits one visible object when subjected to ambient andincandescent light and a different visible object when subjected toultraviolet light. That is, the ink includes a pigment that can beinvisible under normal, e.g., incandescent, fluorescent and ambientlight conditions, which pigment becomes visible when subject toultraviolet light.

[0014] It is contemplated that both the first and second layers caninclude the ultraviolet luminescent pigment. The seriograph can becreated using a plurality of the layers with adjacent layers having thesealing medium disposed between each layer. Alternately, the seriographcan include a plurality of first or second ink or paint layers directlyon one another, without intervening sealing medium layers, although thelast layer is always a seriograph layer on top of a varnish layer.

[0015] A method of creating the multi-layered seriograph includesproviding a backing material, such as paper, and applying a firstseriograph layer to the backing material. The first seriograph layer isapplied to the backing material as a viscous liquid, and consists ofeither ink, the oil-based, non-latex paint or the latex, non-oil-basedpaint applied either by hand or by silk-screen methods as known in theart. The first layer is then dried, and the sealing medium is applied tothe first layer and dried to form a barrier to bleed-through from and tosubsequent layers.

[0016] A second or outer layer is applied over the dried sealing medium.The second layer is applied as a viscous liquid and may again beoil-based, non-latex paint, latex, non-oil-based paint or ink. Thesecond layer is then dried.

[0017] Additional layers can be applied one on the other, with thesealing medium applied between layers, if the layers are of differenttypes. Where the layers are of the same type (e.g., adjacent layers arelatex paint, oil-based paint, or ink) the sealing medium is not requiredbetween adjacent layers.

[0018] Either or both of the layers can include a transparentluminescent pigment. The layer that includes luminescent pigmentproduces a luminescent effect when subject to ultraviolet light. Theseriograph will thus exhibit one visible object when subjected toambient and incandescent light and at least one different visible objectwhen subjected to ultraviolet light.

[0019] Other features and advantages of the present invention will beapparent from the following detailed description and the appendedclaims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment invarious forms, there will here and after be described a presentlypreferred embodiment and methods with the understanding that the presentdisclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention andis not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodimentillustrated.

[0021] Artists make use of luminescent pigments in paint to produce avariety of visual effects. Mixed media is also used to create or enhancethe aesthetics of the art work. In one application, artists will use acombination of ink, oil-based and water-based paints to create certainvaried effects. The combination of ink, oil and water-based paints canbe used with luminescent pigments as well.

[0022] As is common in artist's works, paint, inks and the like areoften applied to a backing material such as canvas, in layers. When thematerials, and particularly a combination including luminescentpigments, are applied to a canvas, it has been observed that the layerswill tend to bleed into one another and detract from the overallaesthetic appeal of the artistic work. Such problems have beenparticularly observed when using water-based acrylic artist media.Nevertheless, artists continue to apply layers of ink, water-based latexpaint and oil-based paint over one another on a canvas or like backingmaterial to achieve their desired objectives. However, it has beenobserved that these paints will tend to bleed into one another or blur,which detracts from the aesthetic appeal of the art work and mayultimately reduce the value of the art work.

[0023] Unexpectedly, it has been found that in a seriograph seriatimlayers of ink, oil-based paints and water-based paints with interveninglayers of a sealing medium, such as varnish, can be applied to createpainted art work having a variety of desired optical effects. Thesealing medium hardens and coats the paint layer to form a barrier tobleed-through form and to subsequent layers. Essentially, the hardenedsealing medium forms a coating that is substantially liquid-impervious.As a result of the seriatim application of paint layers, withintermediate sealing layers, the oil based and latex paints areseparated from one another, do not bleed into the other layers and donot blur the other layer or layers.

[0024] It has been found that using such a painting technique, differingvisual characteristics can be created within a painting when observedunder different light conditions. For example, in a painting, while oneparticular scene or object is observed under normal, e.g., ambient,incandescent and fluorescent light conditions, other scenes, objects orparts of the painting are observed only when the painting is subjectiveto ultra-violet light, commonly referred to as “black light.”

[0025] Because of the differing characteristics of ink, oil-based andwater-based paints, it may be desirable to use a combination of thesepaints in a single painting. However, as discussed above, because of thetendency of the layers to bleed into one another or to blur when usedtogether, it has not been possible to create such combinations with anygreat success. This is particularly so when the inks and paints includeluminescent pigments.

[0026] It has been found that applying intervening sealing layers of,for example, varnish or lacquer, sufficiently separates the respectivelayers from one another, and provides a barrier therebetween, to preventthe problems of bleeding to and from subsequent layers, and the blurringnoted above. Unexpectedly, application of the varnish does not detractfort the fluorescent character of the luminescent pigments. Rather, ithas been observed that such pigments retain their ability to luminancewhen subject to ultraviolet light conditions regardless of whether theyare applied on, or covered by, the sealing medium.

[0027] Those skilled in the art will recognize that it is important thatthe sealing medium not contain an ultraviolet (UV) blocker that blocksor prevents the transmission of ultraviolet light having the specificactivating frequencies or wavelengths that stimulate the color of theluminescent pigments. UV blockers can be used that block or prevent thetransmission of ultraviolet energy having frequencies or wavelengthsother than the activating frequencies or wavelengths, to protect theunderlying materials.

[0028] The present layering configuration can thus be used to createenhanced artistic works that include luminescent pigments in ink ,oil-based and/or latex paints. The true painted images are maintained inall of the paint layers using the present method, regardless of whetherink, oil-based or latex paint is first applied to the canvas.

[0029] In one embodiment, a first layer of ink is applied to a canvas bythe seriograph method, as known in the art. The ink can be formulatedwith a luminescent pigment. After the ink has been given a sufficientperiod of time to dry, a layer of a clear sealant, such as varnish, isapplied to the oil-based paint. The varnish is then permitted to dry,and a second outer layer of ink can be applied to the varnish byseriograph. Again, the ink can include a luminescent pigment.

[0030] Additional layers of ink or paint can be applied to one anotherusing this technique, having varnish layers intermediate each layer ofink, oil-based or latex paint. This direct layering technique creates aharmonious structure on the canvas. Moreover, this combination of ink,oil-based and latex paints having an intermediate varnish layer providesthe artist with a greater flexibility in combining such mixed media.Thus, the visual and aesthetic appeal of the painting can be furtherenhanced and the artistic objective of the artist can be achieved.

[0031] The oil-based paint can use a natural or a synthetic oil.Examples of suitable natural oils include in linseed oil, soy oil,rapeseed oil, castor oil and combinations thereof. The natural oils mayinclude various non-plant oils, such as fish oils. The natural oils canbe used directly, e.g., unmodified, or after chemical modifications toenhance their performance.

[0032] Examples of suitable synthetic oils include those derived fromdi, tri and tetras reacted with aromatic carboxylic acids having fromsix to 14 C atoms (other than the C atoms in the two carboxylic acidgroups), of aliphatic dicarboxylic acids having from four to eight Catoms in the chain, or of cycloaliphatic dicarboxylic acids having fromsix to 14 C atoms (other than the C atoms in the carboxylic acidsgroups). Examples of such dicarboxylic acids to be included withterephthalic acid are phthalic acid, isophthalic acid,naphthalene-2,6-dicarboxylic acid, diphenyl-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid,adipic acid, sobacic acid, and cyclo hexane diacetic acid,naphthalene-1,2-dicarboxylic acid (and anhydride),naphthalene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid (and anhydride), succinic acid, maleicacid, maleic anhydride, fumaric acid, glutatic acid and citric acid.

[0033] Other suitable acids include naphthalene-1,X-dicarboxylic acid,wherein X=3 to 8; naphthalene-2,X-dicarboxylic acid, wherein X=4 to 8;diphenyl-2,X-dicarboxylic acid where X=2′, 3′ or 4′;diphenyl-13,X-dicarboxylic acid where X=2′, 3′ or 4′; diphenyl-3,X-dicarboxylic acid where X=3′ or 4′; and aliphatic and cycloaliphaticdi and tri-carboxylic acids.

[0034] The paints may be further modified by the addition of viscositymodifying materials such as bentonite, fumed silica and the like; di andtriols such as ethylene glycol, 2-2′ oxydiethanol, glycerol and thelike; and solvents and diluents such as common mineral spirits, naphtha,turpentine, paint thinner, white oil, benzene, toluene, o-xylene,m-xylene, p-xylene, mixtures of xylenes, is methoxyethanol,ethoxyethanol, propoxyethanol, i-propoxyethanol, butoxyethanol,1-methoxypropanol, 2, 2-dimethoxypropanol, and the like.

[0035] In a current embopdiment, the oil-based and/or the latex paintcan be formulated with a luminescent pigment, including an8-hydroxyquinoline aluminum complex, other organic based luminescentmaterials, and optical brighteners. Preferably, the luminescent pigmentsare formed from rare earth oxides, such as lanthanide oxides. Thelanthanide oxides, exemplary of which are PrO₂, Nd₂O₃, Sm₂o₃, Eu₂O₃,Ho₂o₃, Er₂O₃, Tm₂O₃, will produce pigments which exhibit variousluminescent properties when subjected to ultraviolet light. Such rareearth oxides are available from United Mineral & Chemical Corporation ofLyndhurst, N.J. and Nemoto & Co., Ltd., of Tokyo, Japan. Those skilledin the art will recognize that a wide variety of pigments of differingtypes can be used in the present invention.

[0036] The latex paint is generally formed by emulsion polymerization.The most common latexes are made from a copolymer of butadiene andstyrene, from vinyl acetate, and from various acrylic monomers. Althoughthe specific properties and performances of these paints may differslightly dependent upon the polymer or polymers from which they aremade, they are all carried in a water or water-rich, water-solublevehicle. The latex paint may include luminescent pigments as describedabove.

[0037] The sealer that is used intermediate the layers of latex andoil-based paint, is a surface coating that is applied as a liquid andsubsequently hardens to a solid. In one known technique, the sealer isvarnish. Varnish is a solution of resinous material in a solvent thatdries by evaporation of the solvent or by a chemical reaction. It isanticipated that any one of a number of different types of varnishes canbe used for the present invention. Spirit varnishes, which generallyhave an alcohol solvent, dry by evaporation of the solvent. One commontype of speared varnish is shellac which is made by dissolving shellacin alcohol solvent. Olio resinous varnishes may also be used as asealer. Drying or hardening of the olio resinous varnish occurs througha combination of polymerization of the drying oil as well as evaporationof the solvent. Alternative sealant include lacquers, transparentpolyurethanes, alkyds and the like.

[0038] In use, a base or backing material, such as canvas, is preparedto receive the paint or other artist's media. It will be recognized bythose skilled in the art that the backing media may include a widevariety of materials other than canvas, including porous materials suchas cardboard, paper, wood and ceramics, as well as non-porous materialssuch as plastics, glazed ceramics and the like. For purposes of thepresent application, reference to canvas or artist's canvas is intendedto include all such backing media. The backing material, which can be anartist's canvas, may be prepared prior to use. Such preparations mayinclude sealing the canvas, or preparing the canvas for receiving theink and/or paint. Such preparations will be understood by those skilledin the art.

[0039] The inks and paints can are then prepared for application to thecanvas. One of the ink or the oil-based paint or the latex paint is thenfirst applied to the canvas. After the paint has had a sufficient periodof time in which to dry, a layer or a coating of the sealer is thenapplied to the first layer of paint. A subsequent outer layer of ink isapplied by the seriograph method and can then be applied over thesealer.

[0040] Advantageously, the layers of paint and ink can be applied in anyorder and subsequent ink or paints can be applied in layers one over theother without an intermediate sealer. That is, a layer of oil-basedpaint can be applied over another layer of oil-based paint without theintervening sealer. However, the last layer must always be ink with theluminescent pigment applied by the seriograph method over a varnishlayer. It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that becauseany of the layers can be enhanced with the luminescent pigment, theability to create a wide variety of visual effects is enhanced.

[0041] Prints created in accordance with the present invention and usingthe method herein provide an artist with the ability to create art workusing mixed media having extreme visual and aesthetic appeal. Thelayering of different types of paints and inks with intervening sealerlayers can be repeated, continuously, to effect visual images heretoforeunknown. Moreover, because the sealer between the layers of paintprovides a hard, non-absorbing surface on which to apply the paint, theopportunity for images and differing layers to blur or bleed into oneanother is minimized if not eliminated.

[0042] From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerousmodifications and variations can be effectuated without departing fromthe true spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the presentinvention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to thespecific embodiment illustrated is intended or should be inferred. Thedisclosure is intended to cover by the appended claims all suchmodifications as fall within the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A multi-layered seriograph consisting essentiallya first layer of paint or ink applied to a canvas; a sealing mediumdisposed on said first paint layer to form a barrier to bleed-throughfrom and to subsequent paint layers; and an outer seriograph ink layerdisposed on said sealing medium, said outer ink layer having atransparent luminescent pigment.
 2. The multi-layered seriograph inaccordance with claim 1 wherein said first paint layer is oil-based,non-latex paint.
 3. The multi-layered seriograph in accordance withclaim 1 wherein said first paint layer is latex, non-oil-based paint. 4.The multi-layered seriograph in accordance with claim 1 wherein saidfirst paint layer is ink.
 5. The multi-layered seriograph in accordancewith claim 1 wherein said outer ink layer includes a transparentluminescent pigment that is not luminescent under only ambient andincandescent light, formulated with said paint, for producing aluminescent effect when subject to ultraviolet light, wherein thepainting exhibits one visible object when subjected to ambient andincandescent light and wherein the painting exhibits at least onedifferent visible object when subjected to ultraviolet light.
 6. Themulti-layered painting in accordance with claim 5 wherein said firstlayers include pigments visible only under incandescent or ambient lightconditions.
 7. The multi-layered seriograph in accordance with claim 1wherein said sealing medium is varnish.
 8. The multi-layered seriographin accordance with claim 1 wherein said sealing medium is lacquer. 9.The multi-layered seriograph in accordance with claim 1 including aplurality of said layers, each said layer having a sealing mediumdisposed between adjacent paint layers.
 10. A method of creating amulti-layered seriograph comprising the steps of: providing a backingmaterial; applying a first layer to said backing material, said firstlayer being applied as a viscous liquid, said first paint layerconsisting essentially of one of an ink, an oil based, non-latex paintand a latex, non-oil-based paint; drying said first layer; applyingsealing medium on said dried first layer; drying said sealing medium toform a barrier to bleed-through from and to subsequent layer; applyingan outer ink layer on said sealing medium by the seriograph method; anddrying said second ink layer.
 12. The method of creating a multi-layeredseriograph accordance with claim 11 wherein said first layer is saidoil-based, non-latex paint.
 13. The method of creating a multi-layeredseriograph accordance with claim 11 wherein said first layer is saidlatex, non-oil-based paint.
 14. The method of creating a multi-layeredseriograph accordance with claim 11 wherein said first layer is ink. 15.The method of creating a multi-layered seriograph in accordance withclaim 11 wherein one of said other ink layer includes a transparentluminescent pigment that is not luminescent under only ambient andincandescent light, formulated with said ink, for producing aluminescent effect when subject to ultraviolet light, wherein theseriograph exhibits one visible object when subjected to ambient andincandescent light and wherein the seriograph exhibits at least onedifferent visible object when subjected to ultraviolet light.
 16. Themethod of creating a multi-layered seriograph in accordance with claim11 including the step of applying a plurality of said first layers. 17.The method of creating a multi-layered painting in accordance with claim16 including the step of applying a sealing medium between each adjacentpaint layer.